Google NZ Welcomes Investigation

Thursday, June 10, 2010

NEW ZEALAND police will now investigate the allegations Google illegally collected personal data while operating its Street view mapping service in New Zealand.

This was according to Assistant Privacy Commissioner Katrine Evans.

She said, “ We met with the New Zealand Police yesterday. We have agreed that we will now refer this matter formally to them, so that they can consider whether Google has committed a criminal offence by collecting payload data from wi-fi networks during its Street View filming”

She added they will continue to consider the privacy angles, but we have no further comment to make at this time.

Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff has previously expressed concerns about the company's data and privacy protection in a letter co-signed with international counterparts.

On the other hand, an email sent to Technogag by Google NZ spokesperson Annie Baxter said the company takes privacy very seriously.

“We will work with all the relevant authorities to answer any questions they might have”, Ms. Baxter said.